Automatic washing machine with means for drying small articles



J. BOCHAN 3,192,745

AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE WITH MEANS FDR DRYING SMALL ARTICLES July 6, 1965 Filed 001;. 29, 1962 FIG.

l8ooo tar M INVENTORQ JOHN BOCHAN By M United States Patent 3,192,745 AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE WITH MEANS T5612 DRYENG SMALL ARTEQLES John Buchan, Louisville, Ky, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 233,660 7 Claims. (Cl. 68-23) This invention relates to clothes washing machines of the type in which a centrifuging step is provided, and more particularly to such machines wherein the centrifuging step may be used for the drying of small articles of clothing such as stockings and lingerie.

It is an object of my invention to provide, in a washing machine of the type'with a clothes receptacle which rotates on a vertical axis and has an agitator provided therein for washing purposes, additional structure which will permit the use of the agitator for the mounting of small articles of clothing so that they may be dried by the centrifuging speed rotation of the receptacle and agitator. I In one aspect thereof, my invention provides a washing machine which has a clothes receptacle mounted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis, together with a movably mounted agitator extending up in the receptacle substantially on that axis. In order to efiect washing and rinsing operations in the machine, the agitator is provided with a suitable washing motion, and in order to remove a substantial amount of liquid from clothes in the receptacle after they are washed, the receptacle is rotated at a high centrifuging speed together with the agitator. Means for securing clothes are arranged to be positioned on the agitator and to be movable therewith when so positioned; as a result, when the agitator spins at high speed with the receptacle, the securing means will spin with it and thereby provide high speed rotation of clothing articles secured to it.

The receptacle is included in a cabinet which has air inlet and outlet openings communicating with the interior of the receptacle. A stream of air will, when the receptacle is rotated at high speed, tend to be drawn into the receptacle since all the various parts of the receptacle, including the agitator and the articles of clothing themselves, will act as the blades of a centrifugal fan. Because of this, air will be passed over the clothes at the same time that centrifugal force is exerted on them. It has been found that small articles of clothing such as, for instance, ladies stockings, may readily be dried in a few minutes with this approach.

The subject matterwhich I regard as my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, FIGURE, 1 is a side elevational view of a clothes washing machine which may advantageously incorporate my invention, the view being partially broken away and partially in section to illustrate details; and

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view in cross section showing a modified component constituting a second embodiment of the invention. 7

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, I have shown therein an agitator-type, vertical-axis clothes washe ing machine 1 having a conventional basket or clothes receptacle 2 perforated over its side and bottom walls with perforations 3, and positioned within an outer imperforate tub or liquid receptacle 4 so that when liquid is retained within tub 4, it will, through perforations 3, rise to the same level in basket 2 as in tub 4. Basket 2 may also be provided with a suitable clothes retaining member 5 for preventing clothes from being floated over the top of the the top portion 9 of the cabinet for providing access through an opening 10 to basket 2. The hinge 11 of lid 8 may be of any suitable well known type which will permit the lid to be opened fully so that the lid is in a substantially vertical position, but which will also permit the lid to be retained in a position slightly ajar, such as that shown in dotted outline. When ajar, the lid provides an opening 12 through which air may enter basket 2 through opening 10 for the purpose to be hereinafter described.

As shown, a gasket 13 may be provided so as to form a seal between the top of tub 4 and portion 9 of the cabinet, thereby to prevent escape of the moisture and moist air into the cabinet around the tub. The mounting of tub 4 within cabinet 7 may be effected by any suitable means. As a typical example of one such means, I have provided strap members 14, each of which is secured at one end to an inturned flange 15 of the cabinet and at its other end to the outside of tub 4. Washing means are provided within the receptacle 2 in the form of a vertical axis agitator 16 positioned at the center of basket 2. Agitator 16 includes a center post 17 and a plurality of curved water-circulating vanes 13 joined at their lower ends by an outwardly flared skirt 19.

Both the clothes basket 2 and the agitator 16 are rotatably mounted. The basket is mounted on a flange 20 of a rotatable hub 21, and the agitator 16 is mounted on a shaft (not shown) which extends upwardly through the hub 21 and through the center post 17, and is secured to the agitator so as to drive it. During the cycle of opera tion of the machine 1, water is introduced into the tub 4 and basket 2, and the agitator 16 is then oscillated back and forth on its axis, that is, in a horizontal plane within the basket to wash the clothes therein. Then, after a predetermined period of this washing action, basket 2 is rotated at high speed to extract centrifugally the washing liquid from the clothes and discharge it to drain. Following this extraction operation, a supply of clean liquid is introduced into the basket for rinsing the clothes and the agitator is again oscillated. Finally, the basket is once more rotated at high speed to extract the rinse water. There are many variations of this relatively basic sequence which may be provided, such as for instance, additional rinses,.or a pause during the first spin (sometimes provided to help prevent suds locking of the machine). However, the sequence described is a typical one for such machines.

The basket 2 and agitator 16 may be driven through any suitable transmission means, from a reversible electric motor 22. By way of example, I have shown them as driven from the motor 22 through a drive including a clutch 23 mounted on the motor shaft. The clutch allows the motor to start without load and'then accept the load as it comes up to'speed. A suitable belt 24 transmits power to a transmission assembly 25 through an input pulley member 26. Thus, depending upon the direction of motor rotation pulley 26 of transmission 25 is driven in opposite directions.

The transmission 25 is so arranged that it supports and drives both the agitator drive shaft and rthe basket mounting hub 21. When motor 22 is rotated in one direction the transmission causes agitator 16 to oscillate in a substantially horizontal plane with the basket 2. Conversely, when motor 22 is driven in the opposite direction, the transmission rotates wash basket 2 and agitator 16 together at high speed for centrifugal liquid extraction. While the internal structure of the drive mechanism forms no part of the invention, reference is made to latent 2,844,225 issued to James R. Hubbard et al. on July 22, 1958 and owned by the General Electric Company, assignee of [the present invention. That patent discloses in detail the structural characteristics of a transmission assembly suitable for use in the illustrated machine.

In addition to operating the transmission as described, motor 22 also provides a direct drive through a flexible coupling 27 to a drain pump 23. Pump 28 has an inlet 29 connected by a conduit 30 to an opening 31 formed at the lowermost point of tub 4. Pump 28 also has an outlet which is connected to a conduit 32. Conduit 32 extends out through the back of easing 7 to a suitable drain (not shown). In the spin direction of rotation of motor 22, the drain pump draws in liquid from opening 30 and then discharges it through conduit 32 to drain. In the opposite direction of rotation of the motor, the pump 23 is substantially inoperative, tending to pump toward the conduit 30.

The motor 22, clutch 23, transmission 25, basket 2, and agitator 16 form a suspended washing and centrifuging system which is supported by the cabinet 7 so as to permit isolation of vibrations from the stationary structure which includes the cabinet and the tub 4. It will be understood that such vibrations occur primarily as a result of high speed spinning of basket 2 with a load of clothes therein. While any suitable suspension structure may be used, I provide an arrangement which includes a bracket member 33 having transmission 25 mounted on top thereof and motor 22 mounted to the underside thereof, the bracket member being in turn secured to rigid upwardly extending members 34. Each upwardly extending member 34 is connected to a cable 35 which extends upwardly so as to be supported from the top of cabinet 7. While only a portion of this suspension structure is shown in the drawing, in order not to obscure unduly the other features of the washing machine, such a vibration isolating system is fully described and claimed in Patent 2,987,190 issued to me on June 6, 1961, and assigned to General Electric Company, assignee of the present invent-ion. Such a suspension system provides flexible support of the motor, transmission, agitator, and basket from the cabinet of the machine so as to isolate from the cabinet, to a substantial extent, the vibrations in the suspension system.

In order to accommodate the relative movement which occurs between basket 2 and tub 4 without any danger of leakage of liquid between them, the stationary tub 4 is joined to the upper part of transmission 25 by a suitable flexible boot member 36. Boot 36 may be of any suitable configuration, many of which are known in the art, to permit relative motion of the parts to which it is joined without leakage therebetween.

Hot and cold water may be supplied to the machine, as described thus far, through conduits 37 and 38 which are adapted to be connected respectively to sources of hot and cold water (not shown). Conduits 37 and 38 extend into a conventional mixing valve structure 39 having solenoids 40 and 41 so that energization of solenoid 40 permits passage of hot water through the valve to hose 42. Energization of solenoid 41 permits passage of cold water through the valve, and energization of both solenoids permits mixing of hot and cold water in the valve and passage of warm water to hose 42. Hose 42 communicates with a nozzle 43 positioned to discharge into basket'2 so that when one or both of the solenoids 40 and 41 are energized, water enters into the basket 2 and tub 4.

The level to which the water rises in the basket and tub may be controlled by any suitable means. One typical means of doing this is to provide an opening 44 in the side of the tub 4 adjacent the bottom thereof, opening 44 being connected through a conduit 45 and a tube 46 to a conventional pressure sensitive mechanism (not shown) which may be positioned within the backsplasher 47 of the machine. In the usual manner, as the water rises in basket 2 and tub 4, it exerts increasing pressure on the column of air trapped in tube 46, and at a predetermined pressure level the column of air then trips the pressure i sensitive mechanism to shut off whichever of solenoids 40 and 41 may be energized.

The backsplasher 47 may have suitable manual controls, such as that shown at 48, extending therefrom so that the particular type of cycle, including water temperature, water level within the tub 4 and basket 2, etc., may be controlled to effect the washing of different types of fabties. The manual control 48 is conventionally in controlling relation to a sequence control mechanism (not shown) which is generally provided within the backsplasher 47 and is connected in controlling relationship to all the electrical components of the machine.

Thus, for instance, in a typical cycle of operations the openator would set the manual control 48 so that, initially, solenoid 40 would be energized to cause hot water to come into the machine. This would continue until the liquid level was sufiicient to shut olt solenoid 40 and cause the control to start motor 22 in the direction to effect oscillation of agitator 16 through the transmission 25. This would continue for a predetermined period of time, after which the motor 22 would reverse its direction of rotation so as to cause high speed rotation of the agitator 16 and the basket 2 together. This would have the result of cansing liquid to be removed from the clothes by centrifugal force at the same time that pump 28 would be operative to pump liquid out of the machine. Thus, the free standing liquid would be pumped out and then, as liquid was forced out of the clothes by centrifugal force, it would also be pumped out of the machine by pump 28. After a period of this, a rinse with either hot, warm or cold water would be provided by energization of the appropriate solenoids until the tub was again filled to the right :level; then agitator 16 would oscillate to cause appropriate circulation of the clothes and water to dilute the wash solution still in the clothes. This rinse water would then be drained and centrifuged out again by reversing the motor, and the cycle would be terminated.

, The foregoing (except for the intermediate position of lid 8) represents a conventional washing machine structure for providing a conventional washing operation. As an important feature of my inventive concept, I contemplate the provision of a member 49 formed, as shown, to fit over the agitator. In the embodiment shown in FIG- URE 1, member 49 fits snugly over the agitator so as to be secured thereto and positively movable therewith. In other words, the motion of the agitator, due to the relatively snug fit of member 49 thereon, will cause a like motion of member 49 in positive fashion when the member 49 is secured thereon. Member 49 may include, at diflerent levels, projecting flanges 5t and 51; these may be circular in form, extending entirely around the agitator.

Secured at circumferentially spaced locations on each flange are a number of gripper devices 52. Each gripper device includes a part 53 which is biased by a spring 54 down toward the flange so that the two may cooperate to grip an article of clothing such as that shown at 55. The member 53 may be rigidly connected to a member 56 so that when the operator pushes member 56 toward the agitator the article 55 will be released. It is thus a simple matter to secure and release articles on the flanges 50 and 51.

When it is desired to dry a few small articles of clothing rapidly, these articles may be secured at one or more points by the gripping members 53 cooperating with their respective flanges 50 and 51. Also, the lid 8 is positioned ajar, as previously described, so that air inlet 12 is provided. The operator then uses the manual control to initiate a spin operation only, that is, a high speed rotation of the basket 2 and agitator 16. As the speed of the agitator rises, the articles, under the influence of centrif ugal force, tend to fly outwardly as shown in FIGURE 1. Also, there results a flow of air into the basket through openings 12 and 10. Because of the centrifugal action, this flow of air will tend to be pulled down toward the rotating mass, and then, under centrifugal force, be moved outwardly.

This results in the air moving through the articles of clothing as they are being rotated. Then, because the pump 28 is operating to exert a suction, this air will, in the structure shown, tend to pass out through the pump. Thus, there will be a flow of air created partly by the pump and partly by the action of the rotating parts (including the clothes themselves) acting as a centrifugal fan to draw air in near its center and then force it outwardly.

It has been found that use of such a structure effects drying of many small articles in a matter of a few minutes. For instance, ladies stockings may be dried in this fashion so that they are dry and ready to wear within a few minutes after having been washed. This may be effected without the use of heat, as shown, simply by the centrifugal force combined with the flow of air. Thus, the addition of member 49, and the ajar position of lid 8, permit the use of a conventional washer as a very convenient and effective means for drying small articles.

A second embodiment of a structure to be positioned on the agitator 17 is shown in FIGURE 2. As opposed to member 49 which, as shown in FIGURE 1, fits snugly on the agitator and is positively moved thereby, the member 57 shown in FIGURE 2 has a top portion 58 adapted to seat on the top of the agitator but otherwise is not secured to the agitator. In other words, when the agitator starts to rotate, the rotation of the agitator will be im parted to member 57 only by friction, with the force of gravity pressing the top 58 of member 57 down on the top of the agitator. With this type of an arrangement it takes somewhat longer for the member 57 to come up to a high speed so that the clothes are flung outwardly as shown in FIGURE 1. However, there is the advantage that the member 57, even with clothes secured thereto, is of very small mass. Thus, if an operator should carelessly get her hand in the way of the rotating part there would be little or no chance of injury. If a careless operator should insert her hand in the path of the structure shown in FIGURE 1, there would be a greater chance of injury resulting from such carelessness.

Continuing with the description of part 57, it is generally cone-shaped so as not to be in snug engagement with the agitator except at its top. Preferably, it will be provided with a number of openings 59 which permit air to be drawn inside the member so that the air passes through the openings 59, then downwardly, and from there, as a result of the fan action of the various members, outwardly as described. This type of a structure helps direct the air so that the major part of it passes over the clothes.

Member 57 is provided with one or more flanges, such as that shown at 60, which may be provided with members 52, as previously described. Of course, it will be recognized that in cooperation with the flange, conventional clothes pins, such as that shown at 61, may be used, if this is preferred to the provision of members such as 52. In such an event, the flange 60 in itself actually forms securing means. It will be understood that the structure 57 is intended to be used instead of member 49 in a washing machine such as that shown in FIGURE 1, and that no other changes are necessary.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the structure I have provided permits the drying of small articles of clothes in a rapid, elfective manner by the use of a simple addition to a conventional washing machine.

It will, for instance, be apparent that this structure is readily usable with virtually any of the washers commercially available today which provide a centrifuging action and which have an agitator extending up into the basket close to the axis of rotation of the basket. This, of course, includes washing machines in which the agitator orbits about the axis since, in the context of this invention, this is considered to be substantially on the axis of rotation of the receptacle. Also, it will be obvious that heaters may be installed to heat the air as it enters, if so desired.

It will thus beunderstood that, while in accordance with the patent statutes I have described what at present are considered to be the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from my invention, and it is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A washing machine comprising:

(a) a clothes receptacle mounted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis;

(b) a movably mounted agitator extending up in said receptacle substantially on said vertical axis;

(c) means for effecting a washing motion of said agitator;

(d) means for effecting high speed rotation of said receptacle and said agitator for the centrifugal removal of liquid from clothes;

(e) means for securing clothes arranged to be positioned on said agitator and movable therewith when so positioned; and

(f) a cabinet enclosing said receptacle, said cabinet having air inlet and outlet openings formed therein communicating with the interior of said receptacle.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means for securing clothes is rigidly mountable on said agitator so as to be positively movable therewith.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means for securing clothes comprises a member seated on top of said agitator and driven by said agitator only through the cooperative action of friction and gravity,

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means for securing clothes comprises a generally cone-shaped member having openings formed in the side wall thereof, said member being arranged to fit over said agitator whereby said openings permit passage of air to help guide air through clothes secured to said member.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said cabinet enclosing said receptacle includes a lid for providing access to said receptacle, said lid having a partly open position in which it forms one of said air openings in said cabinet.

6. A washing machine comprising:

(a) a clothes receptacle mounted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis;

(b) a movably mounted agitator extending up in said receptacle substantially on said vertical axis;

(0) pump means for pumping fluids out of said receptacle;

(d) means for effecting a washing motion of said agitator;

(e) means for effecting high speed rotation of said receptacle and said agitator for the centrifugal removal of liquid from clothes concurrently with operation of said pump means;

(f) means for securing clothes arranged to be positioned on said agitator and movable therewith when so positioned; and

(g) a cabinet enclosing said receptacle, said cabinet having an air inlet opening formed therein communicating with the interior of said receptacle to provide means for air to enter said receptacle when said pump means is operating to remove air from said receptacle.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said air inlet opening is at the top of said cabinet over said receptacle, and said pump means communicates with the bottom of said receptacle.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Smith 68157 Smith 68157 Schenck 6819 Barrett 68--20 Rosepbaum.

Smith 68-32 X IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner,

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Examiner. 

1. A WASHING MACHINE COMPRISING: (A) A CLOTHES RECEPTACLE MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ON A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AXIS; (B) A MOVABLY MOUNTED AGITATOR EXTENDING UP IN SAID RECEPTACLE SUBSTANTIALLY ON SAID VERTICAL AXIS; (C) MEANS FOR EFFECTING A WASHING MOTION OF SAID AGITATOR; 